Beyond the Zenith

Shen Yixiu said she wanted to serve as a soldier on the front lines so she could earn energy cores through combat rewards, climb the ranks, and gain promotions on her own merits.

Others had suggested this to Shen Fengting before, especially after the Coalition’s research project on the “Shen Yixiu Miracle” was shut down. It seemed to be the only option left, and also the best one.

The girl would eventually have to learn to sustain herself.

As for why the research project had been shut down, aside from the fact that it had never produced any breakthroughs, there was another factor: Shen Fengting himself.

The old army commander had constantly interfered with the research, blocking every attempt that carried any risk.

There had been one incident a few years back when researchers opened Shen Yixiu’s independent life-support system without authorization. She immediately went into cardiac failure. When Shen Fengting got word, he stormed in with his maneuvering device active and blade in hand.

The old man’s obsession with this matter ran too deep. He lost all sense of reason.

The Azure Coalition had always been fair to the point of cruelty. By the same token, they had no grounds to demand that the old army commander sacrifice any more than he already had.

In any case, they conducted hundreds of similar experiments, but none succeeded. Shen Yixiu’s case could only be attributed to a unique constitution. There was no universal value to be extracted.

The researchers had posited another theory. Perhaps the girl’s strength didn’t come from the system at all, but from the fact that she was simply powerful to begin with.

That made the research seem even less worthwhile.

“Grandpa, please just let me go.” S-19 walked up to Shen Fengting. The metal muffled her voice, but she tried to project confidence and a smile. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’m really strong. You know that recruit they keep calling the strongest in ten years? That Bluefish? He can’t even come close to beating me.”

She had been preparing these words for days. Deep down, she had already decided to go to the battlefield and earn her keep long ago. Even if one day she died in combat, she would accept that end willingly.

Her only wish was for that day to come as late as possible. Maybe late enough for her grandfather to never learn about or see it.

There was another thing Shen Yixiu was aware of. All the energy cores her grandfather had borrowed over the years were quietly being tallied in a ledger, even though the debt seemed impossible to repay.

Shen Fengting glanced at his granddaughter, hesitating.

Wan Xiujing had long since supported Shen Yixiu’s decision and chimed in to help, “Yeah! When they spar, Elder Sister has to go easy on him. There was only that one time he caught her off guard... and just now, when he slapped her... Never mind.”

As a girl, Wan Xiujing couldn’t help but blush a little when she recalled those two moments.

“The point is, whenever she gets serious or angry, all he can do is run for his life,” she concluded.

He runs fast, though, Wan Xiujing thought, briefly losing her train of thought.

“You can’t compare them like that,” Shen Fengting said, arguing specifics to put off making a decision. “That kid has barely had his armor for a month. You’ve had years.”

“M-my integration level might be even higher than his, though!” Shen Yixiu stammered.

The only way for her to have a higher integration level than Han Qingyu was if she got an A+ or even S-rank. That was quite a bold self-assessment, hence why Shen Yixiu chose the words “might be.”

Her source energy integration level remained a mystery, and perhaps always would be.

The year of the attack, when she was twelve, they hadn’t tested her yet. She had actually been scheduled for testing that very year, but as they couldn’t separate her from her independent life-support system, the source energy field couldn’t measure her.

“Even if that’s the case...” Shen Fengting paused. “Your situation isn’t like others. Most people can get medical treatment if they’re hurt. If you break down...”

The old man winced at his own choice of words, heart welling with guilt.

Break down. Even I’m subconsciously treating my granddaughter like a robot.

Before this, Shen Yixiu’s condition had been kept confidential, and that secrecy had provided a kind of protection for her ego. If she were to join a district platoon, she would first have to clear this hurdle.

“Heh.” Shen Yixiu laughed it off casually, trying to act like she didn’t care. “It’s fine. There won’t be any breakdowns. I’ll be very careful.”

Her situation was unique. If she received any injuries or her independent system sustained any damage, she would very likely be... finished.

Shen Fengting was caught between two impossible choices. Sending his granddaughter to the battlefield was ultimately the only path forward, but he still couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“I... I need to think about it some more,” the old man finally said.

“Okay.” Shen Yixiu settled obediently onto the sofa nearby.

Mangmangmangmang hopped up onto her lap and curled up.

I wonder if I’ll be able to bring Mangmangmangmang with me when the time comes, thought Shen Yixiu.

The cat was her best companion. Over the years, the only times Shen Yixiu truly felt at ease were when she was with Mangmangmangmang.

Wan Xiujing picked up one of the cookies piled on the table and ate it.

The cat leaned over to sniff at it too.

Letting out a small laugh, Shen Yixiu took a cookie and tried to sniff it herself before holding it in her palm for the cat. “Don’t eat too many, okay?”

Mangmangmangmang let out a happy meow.

Beneath her metal shell, Shen Yixiu smiled with a touch of bitterness. She probably wanted the cookie more than the cat did.

Maybe I’ve really ‌become a robot after all. Nobody else has ever survived on nothing but source energy. They say even S-rankers can’t do that.

Shen Yixiu tried to imagine the dismantled maneuvering device components that had since become a part of her. Metal strips connected to her body, threading through her heart. Source energy flowed through her like a blue electric current. It was a terrifying, terrible image that filled her with self-doubt and had made her cry every night when she was young. There were times when she had wished for death back then.

Thankfully, she had made it through. Shen Yixiu had become much stronger than before. Not to mention, she was growing. That, at least, seemed to prove she wasn’t a robot.

Wan Xiujing always said she was like an immortal from the legends, someone who had transcended the need for earthly sustenance.

Shen Yixiu had her own theory, one she had never shared with anyone. She suspected she was something like a “human Sharpie,” accidentally created through all the coincidences of her modification.

Reportedly, the Coalition had never found food or water among a Sharpie’s remains. There was a theory that Sharpies sustained themselves on source energy alone during their long interstellar journeys.

The front legs of the reclining chair by the window hit the floor with a thunk as Shen Fengting opened his eyes and sat up. Looking at his granddaughter, he asked, “Which platoon do you want to join? You choose. Grandpa will pull some strings for you.”

The old man had finally made his decision.

“Any... any would be fine.” Shen Yixiu hadn’t actually given it much thought.

Wan Xiujing tilted her head in consideration. “Why don’t you join the same platoon as that stinky Bluefish? Mm, he’s honest about payments, and he has plenty of energy cores. That way, you could still earn his energy cores when you’re not in combat.”

The little businesswoman’s abacus was clicking away again.

Shen Yixiu mulled it over and decided Xiujing had a point. Sharpies didn’t show up all the time, but they could spar whenever. Although that guy was irritating, at least she was familiar enough with him.

“If she does that, though, Elder Sister will have to tell him the truth about herself.” Wan Xiujing’s tone became a little pained and reluctant. “Also, I’ll have to go back soon. Elder Sister, it’s not like you can remain silent and not talk to anyone forever.”

“Mm.” Shen Yixiu hesitated briefly, but nodded. It was the reality of her situation. The thought of it, though, made her feel awkward and embarrassed.

“That kid’s platoon?” Shen Fengting cut in. “Tsk. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Hm? You’re acting weird, Grandpa. Don’t tell me you’ve been scamming him out of his energy cores.” Wan Xiujing, the braver of the two granddaughters, gave her grandfather an exaggeratedly sly look.

Shen Fengting didn’t deign to respond to her. Clearing his throat, he continued, “I suggest the Gold Erasers. I’ll make the arrangements... hm, though the Gold Erasers will most likely try to recruit him too... Anyway, just don’t mention me.”

“Oh.” Wan Xiujing pondered it over, then turned to Shen Yixiu. “So, Elder Sister, how are we going to tell him? Should I go, or should we go together?”